DANTES with Solenn Heussaff (CDN Photo/ Gerard Pareja)
MORE surprises and revelations will unfold as GMA’s primetime series “Alyas Robin Hood” reaches its climax this week, after two successful seasons.
In a recent talk with Cebu’s entertainment media, Dingdong Dantes, who portrays the lead character, Pepe de Jesus shared his thoughts on what makes the soap click and what sets it apart from the rest.
“I think it’s because for the longest time wala kasing sumusugal sa ganitong mix ng action, comedy and drama. Kasi most of the shows na napapanood natin are either serious drama or serious action and ours is a mix of everything. So it gives a different flavor–that we don’t take ourselves so seriously pero we also send a very serious message also. He bleeds, he falls, he laughs, he cries, so very, very human and ‘yung issues that we tackle are very current pero stylized,” the actor said.
Solenn Heusaff who stars as Iris Lizeralde, the high-society girl, talked about how easygoing the atmosphere on their set is.
“They are all really nice and accommodating and I have already worked with some of them, even the director, so easy and chill lang. And with GMA it’s always easy to integrate yourself dahil walang bida-bida, lahat is just chill. So, masaya,” said Heussaff.
The Kapuso Primetime King was quick to praise Heussaff’s professionalism.
“Walang kahirap-hirap kasi walang arte-arte na parang si Solenn dahil she really studies her role or character in the script. Para bang she is not acting at all. Ganun siya ka-professional. Nakakaaliw dahil kahit ano ang ipapagawa mo sa kaniya, madali talaga siyang katrabaho,” he said.
PEPE’S STORY
The series also stars Andrea Torres as Venus, the faithful ally and love interest of Pepe, Ruru Madrid as Andres Silang, the nerdy adopted son of Edu Manzano’s character, Emilio and Jaclyn Jose as Pepe’s mother.
More than the expected action sequences, the second season highlights Pepe unraveling his alter ego—“Alyas Robin Hood” as he battles evil forces threatening his city.
Citing more depth in his character this time around, Dantes said: “Kasi sa area niya no one stands up for the poor and oppressed. So para sa kanya siya ang nag re-represent ng hope lalo na dun sa mga mahihirap. Pero ang sabi naman niya being ‘Alyas Robin Hood’ hindi lang sa isang tao ‘yan. Everyone has the capacity to help others, everyone has the capability to call out what’s wrong and what’s right. ‘Yun naman talaga ang message ng show.” Dantes remains hopeful that once the series wraps up, more worthwhile projects will come his way.
“Having a book two is already a blessing. We never expected this, kumbaga bonus na lang ‘to from the results of season one. We are grateful for everything at kung anuman ang ibibigay sa amin tatanggapin namin,” he said.
LOVE AND MARRIAGE
Heussaff—who juggles being wife to Nico Bolzico with her showbiz commitments—makes keeping things together in a marriage sound easy and simple. She let us in on a “secret.”
“For the last year, halos wala ako sa bahay so chill lang. Sabi nga ng Dad ko na the longest time you’re away from your husband, the longer your marriage will last. And it is good not to see each other too much,” she quipped.
“And wala naman pinagkaiba ‘cause we had been living in for almost five years before we got married. After three months of being with him, live-in na and I have been open about,” she added. Dantes, on the other hand, has his hands full as father to Zia and husband to GMA’s Primetime Queen Marian Rivera, while dealing with both his and his wife’s hectic schedules.
“Yes, we are both busy so it is quite a struggle. Pero challenge ‘yan ‘yung hindi na halos kayo nagkikitaan sa bahay kaya we make our Sundays very sacred na hangga’t maari magkasama kami. That we are together with family kasi that’s only the time we have though at times for her tini-taping niya twice a month ‘yung ibang episodes para lang magkasama kami,” he said.
ART AND ADVOCACY
Fresh from her second art exhibit billed “Kalsada,” Heussaff revealed her creative process—taking photos of her subjects and then painting them without changing anything, not even the clothes.
“Gusto ko talaga streetkids because almost all of my paintings are based on people that I see in the streets,” the actress said.
Her ultimate goal? “I want to do art classes around the Philippines for streetchildren and then exhibit their work.” She also talked about the beneficiary of the exhibit’s proceeds.
“Twenty percent goes to Kalipay Negrense Foundation, it is for the abused street children in Bacolod. I have always wanted a small foundation. I don’t want it really malaki since ‘yung big foundations they already have the financial help. And I always go to Bacolod. Almost lahat ng mga friends ko are from there,” Heussaff said.
We then turned to Dantes, who served as commissioner-at-large of the National Youth Commission in 2014, and asked if he’d ever consider joining politics in the future.
“Wala namang desisyon pa basta tuloy lang ‘yung adbokasiya ko. I have always said this na I’d go where I’m needed,” he answered.